After thirteen years, an unused Latter-day Saint chapel is open again, and filling up with more worshippers each Sunday. At last count, around 50 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the small New Zealand township of Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty are enjoying the building's - and their own - revivals.
The re-opening of the local Mormon chapel and surge in church attendance came after a united effort from neighbouring Whakatane church members to visit members in Kawerau.
Among those attending again is Morena Shortland, who is back after an absence of 52 years. "The last time I attended church I was a 14-year-old deacon serving the sacrament," he laughs good-humouredly.
Shortland says he is noticing some changes in the way he thinks, acts and speaks, since his return. "When I’m playing golf I no longer say those funny things when the ball goes out of bounds. I know I’ve changed inside. It’s been a change for the best."
Joining him at church are his daughter, Wendy, and two grandsons, Bryan and Toby, who were baptized shortly after the chapel reopened. After losing his mother about three years ago Bryan was attracted to the Latter-day Saint teaching that families can be together forever.
His brother Toby was drawn to the idea of eternal life. "I really liked the missionary discussions," he said. And being baptized made him feel "pretty good."
The first person to be baptized in the reopened chapel was eight-year-old Nephi Sanerive. He is the great-grandson of Don Hohepa, a former branch president at Kawerau.
About two years ago church members from Whakatane began to visit Kawerau Mormons on a regular basis. Many families were responsive to this outreach.
A youth conference for Bay of Plenty Mormon teenagers was held at Kawerau in late 2009. On top of the social and sporting activities of the weekend, youth visited their peers who were not currently involved in church activities. Friendships were forged and invitations to join in were extended. As a result of these visits, 170 people attended sacrament meeting that weekend.
The Kawerau Branch continues to grow thanks to the faith of its members, and the love and support of fellow church members in surrounding cities and towns.
